Thimble or finger protector



Dec. L6, 1947. J. LLOYD THIMBLE 0R FINGER PROTECTOR I Filed Sept. 1:5,1945 Patented Dec. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT o ncE 2,432,579 Tnt/tens on FINGER PROTECTOR Jeannette I loyd,;New York, N. Y. e e ieaige Seawat r 13, .9 .5 S 1ie N9- 1 050 10. Claims. 1

This invention relates to a thimble or finger protector particularlyuseful in knitting, crochet ing or other similar operations to provide.a bearing surface for thread and to maintain the same under tension.

In various operations, such as knitting and crocheting, it is customaryto wrap two or three turns of the thread around the finger to assureproper tension on the thread. This maintaining of the thread undertension may result in irrita' tion of the finger and possible breakageof the thread due to holding the latter too tight. Additionally, thedrawing of the thread over the finger is physically uncomfortable.

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide a thimbleformed with means for guiding thread or yarn; to provide such a thimbleformed with a continuous thread or yarn guiding means on its externalsurface adapted to guide thread or yarn from one end of the thimble t0the other and to maintain it under tension; to provide such athimbleincluding a shell having either a closed or open end and an externalsurface formed with thread or yarn guiding and tensioning means adaptedto guide thread or yarn in several turns over such external surface; toprovide such a thimble in which the guiding means is adaptable tothreads or yarn of widely different diameters or thicknesses; to providea thimble having a helical rib on its external surface for guiding andtensioning thread or yarn; to provide a thimble having a helical rib onits external surface and a helical groove adjacent the base of the rib,for guiding thread or yarn of widely difiering diameters around thethimble from one end to the other thereof; and to provide a simple, andinexpensive device for guiding and tensioning thread or yarn duringknitting or crocheting operations.

These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill be apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawing. l

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a somewhatschematic ,view-illust-rating the device of theinvention asappliedto the finger during a knitting or crocheting.,operation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a thimble accord ing to the presentinvention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the thimble of Fig. 2.

The present invention com rises a thimble including a fin er fittingshell which may have either a closed or open outer end. The externalsurface of the shell is provided-with a continuous thread or yarnguiding and tensioning means, prefer-ably including a helical rib. Ahelical groove is formed adjacent the helical rib and is preferably madevery shallow. In cross-section, the helical rib is concavo-convex, withits concave surface on the side nearest the groove, so that anoverhanging lip is provided adjacent the outer periphery of-the rib.Threads or yarns of small diameter are guided and tensioned in theshallow helical groove, whereas larger diameter threads or yarns areguided and tensioned in the concave-convex rib. The thread or yarn thustakes several turns around the thimble in passing from the supply to thepoint of use, and suitable tension is thus maintainedthereon withoutundesirable friction on the skin of the finger.

Referringto Fig. 1 of the drawing, the thimble iii of the invention isillustrated as applied to the index finger I! of a left hand B3 to guidea thread or yarn 12 from a source of supply to the knitting orcrocheting apparatus contained in the right hand. Fig. l is'exemplaryonly, and

held in each hand. Thread 12 is guided around helical guiding meansgenerally indicated at 95 so that several turnsare provided aroundthimble l6. -While the helical guiding means is shown as having aleft-hand threadthis is exemplary only, and a right hand thread may beused with equal facility.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thimble ii! comprises ashell 29 having aclosed outer end 25. Shell ZtJis somewhat frusto-conical in shape so asto fit the end of a finger. The external surface of shell H3 is providedwith a continuous thread or yarn guiding and tensioning means. Suchmeans comprises a helical rib ltwhich i conpatio-convex in crosssection, having a' convex outer surface if and a concave innersurfacel'it.

Concave inner surface l8 thus providesan over hanging lip 2i. forapurpose to be described hereinafter. Helical rib i6 is continuous fromone end of thimble 10 to theother. Adjacent the base of rib l6, shell 20i formed with a helical groove 26 which is preferably shallow in depth.Shallow groove 25 is likewise continuous from one end of'thimble H] tothe other. As shown more particularly in Fig. 3, thread or yarn. Q2 ofrelatively small diameter rests in groove 26 and is thereby guidedthrough several turns around thimble I 0 so that suitable tension may beis thus adaptable to perform a thread guiding and tensioning function onthreads of widely differing diameters.

The thimble may be made of any suitable material such as plastic, metaland so forth. Rib I6 and groove 26 may be formed in any desired manner,either by machining operations, or by being cast or otherwise formed inshell 253. The completed thimble forms a simple and effective device forpreventing friction against a finger during knitting and crochetingoperations, while still providing for maintaining tension on a thread oryarn which is guided along the thimble from one end to the other. Asstated, the outer end of the thimble may be either closed or openwithout affecting the operation of the invention.

Also, the shell may have a shape other-than frusto-conical. The helicalguiding means l5 may extend in either direction, and is shown as alefthand thread only for the purpose of illustration.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, to illustrate the application of the principlesthereof, the invention may be otherwise embodied, without departing fromsuch principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A thimble comprising a finger fitting. shell, the external surface ofsaid shell being formed with a thread or yarn guiding means continuouscircumferentially and longitudinally of the shell and effective to guidethe thread or yarn circumferentially and longitudinally of the thimble.

2. A thimble comprising a finger fitting shell having a closed outerend, the external surface of said shell being formed with a thread oryarn guiding and tensioning means continuous ciroumferentially andlongitudinally of the shell and effective to guide the thread or yarncircumferentially and longitudinally of the thimble.

3. A thimble comprising a finger fitting shell,

the external surface of said shell being formed with a helical thread oryarn guiding means effective to guide the thread or yarn substantiallyfrom one end of the thimble circumferentially and longitudinally to theother.

4. A thimble comprising a finger fitting shell having a closed outerend, the external surface of said shell being formed with a helicalthread or yarn guiding means effective to guide thread or yarn of widelydiffering diameters substantially from one end of the thimble to theother.

5. A thimble comprising a finger fitting shell having a closed outerend, the external surface of said shell being formed with a projectinghelical thread or yarn guiding and tensioning rib effective to guidethread or yarn of widely differing diametersfrom one end of the thimbleto the other.

6. A thimble comprising a finger fitting shell having a closed outerend, the external surface of said shell being formed with a continuousthread or yarn guiding and tensioning means effective to guide thread oryarn of widely differing diameters from substantially one end of thethimble to the other, said means comprising a projecting helical rib anda helical groove adjacent the base of said rib.

'7. A thimble comprising a finger fitting shell having a closed outerend, the external surface of said shell being formed with a continuousthread or yarn guiding and tensioning means effective to guide thread oryarn of widely differing diameters from substantially one end of thethimble to the other, said means comprising a projecting transverselycurved helical rib.

8. A thimble comprising a finger fitting shell having a closed outerend, the external surface of said shell being formed with a continuousthread or yarn guiding and tensioning means effective to guide thread oryarn of widely diifering diameters from substantially one end of thethimble to the other, said means comprising a projecting transverselycurved helical rib and a helical groove at the base of said rib adjacentthe concave side thereof; said rib providing guiding means forrelatively large diameter thread or yarn and said groove providingguiding means for relatively small diameter thread or yarn.

9. A thimble comprising a finger fitting shell, the external surface ofsaid shell being formed with a continuous thread or yarn guiding andtensioning means effective to guide thread or yarn of widely differingdiameters from substantially one end of the thimble to the other, saidmeans comprising a projecting transversely curved helical rib; thetransverse curve in said rib providing an overhanging yarn or threadretaining lip.

10. A thimble comprising a finger fitting shell, the external surface ofsaid shell being formed with a continuous thread or yarn guiding andtensioning means effective to guide thread or yarn of widely differingdiameters from substantially one end of the thimble to the other, saidmeans comprising a projecting transversciy curved helical rib and ashallow helical groove at the base of said rib adjacent the concave sidethereof; the transverse curve in said rib provid ng REFEEENQE S Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,684,076 Smith Sept. 11, 1928719,352 Marsh Jan, 2'7, 1903 635,369 Bowen Oct. 24, 1839 2,150,724Willsey Aug. 17, 1915

